Hooded sweatshirt that converts to a stuffed pillow

ABSTRACT

A hooded sweatshirt that may be converted to a stuffed pillow has a sweatshirt body that is adapted to be worn by a person and a hood attached to the sweatshirt body. The hood has a stuffed-pillow surface and an opposed hood surface. The hood can be reconfigured between a sweatshirt configuration wherein the hood surface faces outward and can cover a head of the person when the person is wearing the sweatshirt body, and a pillow configuration wherein the stuffed-pillow surface faces outward and the sweatshirt body may be stuffed inside the hood so that they together form the stuffed pillow.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application for a utility patent claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/769,885, filed Feb. 27, 2013, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/815,816, filed Apr. 25, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to sweatshirts and stuffedpillows/animals, and more particularly to a hooded sweatshirt thatconverts to a stuffed pillow.

2. Description of Related Art

The prior art teaches hooded sweatshirts, and the prior art teachesstuffed pillows; however, the prior art does not teach a hoodedsweatshirt that converts to a stuffed pillow.

The present invention fulfills these needs and provides furtheradvantages as described in the following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and usewhich give rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention provides a hooded sweatshirt that converts to astuffed pillow. The hooded sweatshirt has a sweatshirt body that isadapted to be worn by a person and a hood attached to the sweatshirtbody. The hood formed by a flexible sheet has a stuffed-pillow surfaceand an opposed hood surface that together extend to a perimeter. Thehood can be reconfigured between a sweatshirt configuration wherein thehood surface faces outward and can cover a head of the person when theperson is wearing the sweatshirt body, and a pillow configurationwherein the stuffed-pillow surface faces outward and the sweatshirt bodymay be stuffed inside the hood so that they together form the stuffedpillow. The hood also has a fastener for removably fastening a firsthalf of the perimeter to a second half of the perimeter to secure thehood in either the sweatshirt or pillow configuration.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide the hoodedsweatshirt that converts to the stuffed pillow having advantages nottaught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide the hooded sweatshirt that converts tothe stuffed pillow having decorative features of a stuffed animaldisposed on the stuffed-pillow surface

A further objective is to provide a method for converting the hoodedsweatshirt into the stuffed pillow.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In suchdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a hooded sweatshirt that convertsto a stuffed pillow, according to one embodiment of the presentinvention, illustrating the hooded sweatshirt in a sweatshirtconfiguration;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt illustratinga fastener of a hood of the hooded sweatshirt being opened to reveal astuffed-pillow surface of the hood;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt, illustratingthe hood being inverted so that the stuffed-pillow surface is on theoutside of the hood;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view thereof, illustrating the hood forminga stuffing space;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt,illustrating a sweatshirt body being folded in preparation for beingstuffed into the stuffing space;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt,illustrating a further step of folding the sweatshirt body inpreparation for being stuffed into the stuffing space;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view of a stuffed pillow that is formed bythe hooded sweatshirt once it has been stuffed into the stuffing spaceof the hood in a pillow configuration; and

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the stuffed pillow formed by thehooded sweatshirt in the pillow configuration once the fastener has beenclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a hoodedsweatshirt 10 that converts to a stuffed pillow 50.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt 10,according to one embodiment of the present invention, illustrating thehooded sweatshirt 10 in a sweatshirt configuration. FIG. 2 is a rearelevational view thereof. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, in the sweatshirtconfiguration, the hooded sweatshirt 10 may be worn as an article ofclothing. The hooded sweatshirt 10 may have a sweatshirt body 12 that isadapted to be worn by a person, and a hood 20 attached to the sweatshirtbody 12.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the sweatshirt body 12 is the part of thehooded sweatshirt 10 that is adapted to be worn over the midsection ofthe person. For example, in the present embodiment, the sweatshirt body12 may include a main body 14 that is adapted to be worn over the torsoof the person, sleeves 15 to cover the arms of the person, a closure 16for closing the main body 14 (which is not required if a pullover typeof garment), and a collar 17. It is not required that the sweatshirtbody 12 be in the shape of sweatshirt. The term “sweatshirt” is herebydefined to include any form of garment or related article, such as acoat, a jacket, a robe, a cape, a towel, a blanket, a shirt, or anyarticle of clothing or cloth item that may have a hood attached to it.While FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the sweatshirt body 12, thoseskilled in the art may devise alternative embodiments, and thesealternative or equivalent are considered within the scope of the presentinvention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the hood 20 of the hooded sweatshirt 10 isfor wearing over the head of the person. In the present invention, thehood 20 is made of a flexible sheet (e.g., cloth) that includes a hoodsurface 22 and a stuffed-pillow surface 24 (illustrated in FIGS. 3-10).The hood surface 22 and the stuffed-pillow surface 24 are opposed toeach other, and extend to a perimeter 25.

The hood surface 22 may include an outer surface 32 that faces outwardlyand protects the person from the elements (e.g., sun, rain, etc.), andan inner surface 34 that contacts the person's head. The outer surface32 and the inner surface 34 are separated by a fold 36 which may bedefined by structure, or simply defined by the natural fold of thematerial. While FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the hood 20, thoseskilled in the art may devise alternative embodiments, and thesealternative or equivalent are considered within the scope of the presentinvention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the hood 20 may be attached to or adjacentthe collar 17 of the sweatshirt body 12 via any structure or mechanismknown in the art. For example, it may be attached via a permanentstitch, removably attached with a connector (e.g., snaps, buttons, hooksand loops, etc.), or connected or associated in any manner known in theart.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the hooded sweatshirt 10 further includes afastener 30 for removably fastening a first half 26 of the perimeter 25to a second half 28 of the perimeter 25 to secure the hood 20 in eitherthe sweatshirt configuration or a pillow configuration (shown in FIGS.3-10). In the present embodiment, the fastener 30 is shown as a zipper.Other alternatives are possible, for example the fastener 30 may be ahooks and loops type fastener, buttons, snaps, clasps, or any kind offastener known to one skilled in the art, and these alternative orequivalent devices are considered within the scope of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt 10illustrating the fastener 30 of a hood 20 of the hooded sweatshirt 10being opened to reveal a stuffed-pillow surface 24 of the hood 20. FIG.4 is a side elevational view thereof. As illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, thefastener 30 of the hood 20 may be opened to reveal the stuffed-pillowsurface 24 that will form the outer surface of the stuffed pillow 50when converted to the pillow configuration.

The stuffed-pillow surface 24 is for providing a comfortable andaesthetically pleasing surface to the stuffed pillow 50. In the presentembodiment, the stuffed-pillow surface 24 has decorative features 40 ofa stuffed animal formed, attached to, and or otherwise disposed on thestuffed-pillow surface 24. Other features and designs are possible forthe stuffed-pillow surface 24. The decorative features 40 may besymbols, embossing, designs, further stuffed elements. There may also benone of the decorative features 40 on the stuffed-pillow surface 24,giving a plain appearance. While FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment ofthe stuffed-pillow surface 24, those skilled in the art may devisealternative embodiments, and these alternative or equivalent areconsidered within the scope of the present invention.

FIGS. 5-10 illustrate the conversion of the hooded sweatshirt 10 fromthe sweatshirt configuration to the pillow configuration. FIG. 5 is arear elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt 10, illustrating the hood20 being inverted so that the stuffed-pillow surface 24 is on theoutside of the hood 20. FIG. 6 is a side elevational view thereof,illustrating the hood 20 forming a stuffing space 23. The stuffing space23 is shaped and sized to receive the sweatshirt body 12.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the hooded sweatshirt 10,illustrating the sweatshirt body 12 being folded in preparation forbeing stuffed into the stuffing space 23. FIG. 8 is a front elevationalview of the hooded sweatshirt 10, illustrating a further step of foldingthe sweatshirt body 12 in preparation for being stuffed into thestuffing space 23. Obviously, such folding steps are not required, andthe sweatshirt body 12 may be stuffed into the stuffing space 23 in anymanner desired, although these steps illustrate one method in which thestuffing may be accomplished.

FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view of a stuffed pillow 50 that is formed bythe hooded sweatshirt 10 once it has been stuffed into the stuffingspace 23 of the hood 20 in the pillow configuration. As illustrated inFIG. 9, the fastener 30 may be closed to draw together the first andsecond halves 26, 28 of the perimeter 25, thereby closing the stuffedpillow 50.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the stuffed pillow 50 formed oncethe fastener 30 has been closed as illustrated in FIG. 9. As shown inFIG. 10, the stuffed pillow 50 is a fully formed, decorated, and stuffedpillow, which may provide a pillow for sleeping, a stuffed animal forplay, and/or any other similar use.

As shown in FIGS. 1-10, the hood 20 can be quickly and easilyreconfigured between the sweatshirt configuration wherein the hoodsurface 22 faces outward and can cover the head of the person when theperson is wearing the sweatshirt body 12, and the pillow configurationwherein the stuffed-pillow surface 24 faces outward and the sweatshirtbody 12 may be stuffed inside the hood 20 so that they together form thestuffed pillow 50.

The present invention also includes a method of converting the hoodedsweatshirt 10 into the stuffed pillow 50 and is best shown by FIGS.3-10. Beginning with FIG. 3, where the fastener 30 is closed, thefastener 30 may be opened to expose the stuffed-pillow surface 24 insidethe hood 20, as shown in FIG. 4. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, inverting thehood 20 such that the stuffed-pillow surface 24 is exterior to the hoodsurface 21, and the hood 20 forms the stuffing space 23. FIGS. 6-8 showstuffing the sweatshirt body 12 inside the stuffing space 23 of the hood20. It should be noted that the folding shown of the hood 20 body is forexemplary purposes only; any method of stuffing the hood 20 into thestuffing space 23 may be used by the user. The fastener 30 is thenclosed, with the hood 20 body inside the stuffing space 23, as shown inFIG. 9, such that the sweatshirt body 12 is held inside the stuffingspace 23 of the hood 20 and provides stuffing of the stuffed pillow 50.Finally, the stuffed pillow 50 is formed, with the stuffed-pillowsurface 24 on the outside forming the surface of the stuffed pillow 50,as shown in FIG. 10.

As used in this application, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are definedto include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically statedotherwise. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similarterms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically statedotherwise. Furthermore, the terminology used in the specificationprovided above is hereby defined to include similar and/or equivalentterms, and/or alternative embodiments that would be considered obviousto one skilled in the art given the teachings of the present patentapplication.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hooded sweatshirt that converts to a stuffedpillow, comprising: a sweatshirt body that is adapted to be worn by aperson; and a hood attached to the sweatshirt body, the hood formed by aflexible sheet comprising: a stuffed-pillow surface and an opposed hoodsurface that together extend to a perimeter; wherein the hood can bereconfigured between a sweatshirt configuration wherein the hood surfacefaces outward and can cover a head of the person when the person iswearing the sweatshirt body, and a pillow configuration wherein thestuffed-pillow surface faces outward and the sweatshirt body may bestuffed inside the hood so that they together form the stuffed pillow;and a fastener for removably fastening a first half of the perimeter toa second half of the perimeter to secure the hood in either thesweatshirt or pillow configuration.
 2. The hooded sweatshirt of claim 1,further comprising decorative features of a stuffed animal disposed onthe stuffed-pillow surface.
 3. The hooded sweatshirt of claim 1, whereinthe fastener is a zipper.
 4. A method for converting a hooded sweatshirtto a stuffed pillow, the method comprising the steps of: providing ahooded sweatshirt having a sweatshirt body, and a hood having astuffed-pillow surface and an opposed hood surface that extend to aperimeter, wherein in a sweatshirt configuration the stuffed-pillowsurface is within the hood and the hood surface faces outwardly;inverting the hood such that the stuffed-pillow surface is exterior tothe hood surface, and the hood forms a stuffing space; stuffing thesweatshirt body inside the stuffing space of the hood; and closing theperimeter of the hood, such that the sweatshirt body is held inside thestuffing space of the hood and provides stuffing of the stuffed pillow,with the stuffed-pillow surface on the outside of the stuffed pillow. 5.A hood that converts to a stuffed pillow, comprising: a stuffed-pillowsurface and an opposed hood surface that together extend to a perimeter;wherein the hood can be reconfigured between a hood configurationwherein the hood surface faces outward and can cover a head of theperson when the person is wearing the hood, and a pillow configurationwherein the stuffed-pillow surface faces outward and the hood forms astuffing space; and a fastener for removably fastening a first half ofthe perimeter to a second half of the perimeter to secure the hood ineither the hood configuration or the pillow configuration.
 6. The hoodof claim 5, wherein the hood is formed by a flexible sheet.
 7. The hoodof claim 5, further comprising decorative features of a stuffed animaldisposed on the stuffed-pillow surface.
 8. The hood of claim 5, whereinthe fastener is a zipper.
 9. The hood of claim 5 wherein a stuffingarticle is attached to the hood and the stuffing article may be stuffedinside the hood so that they together form the stuffed pillow.